As the new school year commences, it brings back fond memories of my days attending school back home in Cornell. If you didn’t guess it already, I was one of those geeky kids who loved school, much to my parents’ delight. Sure, I enjoyed summer as much as the next kid, but, for some reason, I yearned to go back each fall and bury my nose in books and homework.
I loved homework, writing and being artistic – which really hasn’t changed all that much, I guess. Regardless of how hard I worked at getting straight A’s, it was sometimes difficult for me to stay focused in school.
No, I’m not talking about passing notes during class or whispering about boys in a secluded corner of the library. Granted, there are many of those instances I can recall that have been stored in my memory banks, I’m referring to the harsh reality that school can oftentimes be a horrific place for a kid. Though I had an affinity for learning, I neglected to mention that I was also a pudgy kid who was blessed with Coke-bottle spectacles by the time I was in fourth grade.
While that period of my life has come and gone – for the most part – I, like many other kids that age, became the subject of ridicule from my classmates. Words like ‘fatty’ and ‘four eyes’ were thrown my way on a daily basis. Meant to be a place where kids felt safe and did the majority of their maturing, I quickly discovered that school wasn’t always a conducive environment for learning.
When I started kindergarten, I remember a choice few of my classmates who were just plain mean to me. Though I wasn’t the one who bore the brunt of their wrath, it still hurt. I was only leafy to imagine how other kids who were incessantly teased felt.
While there were others who saw humor in this kind of behavior and joined in on the pranks and jokes on occasion, class clowns they certainly were not.
As we grew older, several of those same mean kids continued to tease and torment classmates, so much so that it brought kids to tears. And while I’d like to say I was merely a victim, innocent when it came to bullying, I admit that there were times I caught myself laughing at the expense of others. Looking back, I can’t help but shake my head in disgust. It’s not funny, whatsoever. But, as they say, hindsight is 20/20. Unfortunately, it doesn’t appear as though much has changed since my elementary and high school days.
Through all the technological advancements that education has seen, as well as the many fads that have come and gone – from the leather and grease of the ‘50s and the hippie chic of the ‘70s to the big hair of the ‘80s and punk and grunge styles of the ‘90s – bullying seems to be the one constant that every generation has endured. As tragic as it is to imagine, bullying has always been a problem within the confines of any educational institution, whether it be in the cafeteria, out on the playground or in the classroom.
And, sadly, with new conveniences like cell phones and computers, bullying has become even worse. Threats and torments are now as easy as sending a message via Facebook or text message. And while I know, from experience, that kids don’t like being tattletales – not to mention the fact that it can be embarrassing for them to admit to being bullied – parents need to make sure their children are not being victimized. While I know that schools have bullying policies in place, this kind of behavior should be nipped in the bud before these kids even enter the hallways. Parents need to instill in their children that teasing of other individuals won’t be tolerated. Not only should they respect their elders, but they should be taught to respect everyone.
Jennie Oemig
Editor
Arcadia News-Leader
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